beauty | the BBB: big braid bun

Whenever I saw Solange Knowles or Neema Nouse – or basically every other black girl with box braids – with these gigantic buns, I was always super jealous and felt like I’d missed the memo and wasn’t privy to the big conference that taught everyone how to make these buns, because no matter how long or how thick I made my braids, my buns always looked incredibly pathetic by comparison. So, after searching for answers for a while & finally finding a useful YouTube Video, I have learnt how to accomplish the massive bun, and I’ll impart it onto you in 6 simple steps.

Side note: while this is written for my matrons of melanin with braids, this can very easily be used for other hair textures as well! Big buns for everyone! 🙂

What You Need

A scarf.

While bobby pins or a hair band can be used at your discretion at the end, you literally only need a scarf. But the scarf you do use has to be one of those elongated chiffon types, or you can fold a regular silk/square scarf into a strip like a headband. You can also use a sock bun (you’ll just skip a few steps)!

The Big Braid Bun

Step 1

Bring all of your hair forward (with your head sort of upside down) and put the scarf around your head, as if you were to tie it at the back.

Step 2

Tie the scarf once quite loosely, and as you tighten the scarf, pull it towards your forehead so that it pulls all your hair to the top of your head.

Step 3

Now you can sit up straight and you’ll kind of feel like Janet Jackson in Poetic Justice (if you really wanna go for that look, maybe pull Step 2 slightly away from the very very top of your head, that way, your hair doesn’t get in your eyes). Take the remaining scarf and wrap each end around the central loop, then tuck it into itself. (If you were using a sock bun, you’d just tie your hair up right on top of your head and then place the donut on)

Step 4

Part your hair approximately in the middle, as this is crucial to Step 5.

Step 5

Take one half of your hair, twist it, and start pulling it around your head.

Step 6

While you’re doing Step 5, twist the other half of your hair and pull it around your head in the same direction as the first half. Keep wrapping your hair around the bun until there’s just strands left at the very end. You can either pull them tightly and – if you have braids – they’ll probably stay there, or you can secure them with bobby pins. You can also use a hair band and just put it over the bun to keep it secure.

Now, just pat your bun on top so it flattens out a bit & voila! Anacondas around the world will be satisfied with your hair 🙂 If you have your own BBB method or any tips of your own, let me know!